Opening ceremony and high-level discussions

The Assembly will officially open on 17 June at 09:00 CEST with remarks from FAO Director-General Dr QU Dongyu, joined by high-level representatives from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the Kingdom of Thailand and Ethiopia. The opening ceremony will also feature the screening of the video Caring for soils, empowering people and a keynote address by Professor Ganlin Zhang, recipient of the 2025 Glinka World Soil Prize.

Join the webcast side events

While participation in the Plenary Assembly is reserved for GSP partners, everyone is invited to follow three special side events that will be webcast live.

• Smarter Fertilizer Use for Food Security: The SoilFER Approach | 17 June 2026 | 12:00–13:30 (Green Room - A122) 

This event will showcase how the SoilFER initiative supports sustainable fertilizer management and contributes to food security through improved soil fertility practices 👉🏿 FOLLOW VIA WEBCAST. In-presence participants are also invited to explore the SoilFER Atrium Exhibit "The Journey of Soil Data", open until 19 June, featuring live demonstrations and insights into how soil data drives practical solutions.

• Sharing Good Practices for Soil Governance – Experiences from Colombia and Guatemala in the Use of Agrological Information for Rural Cadastre and Agrifood Sustainability | 18 June 2026 | 12:30 - 13:30 (Green Room - A122)

Organized by Colombia, this session will present experiences and lessons learned in advancing soil governance and promoting sustainable land management practices 👉🏿 FOLLOW VIA WEBCAST

• Healthy Soils, Healthy Future | 18 June 2026 | 18:00–19:30 (Sheikh Zayed Centre and Atrium) 

Organized by the Kingdom of Thailand, this event will showcase how governments, technical experts and farmers are working together across regions to promote sustainable soil management and improve soil health through practical, collaborative approaches 👉🏿 FOLLOW VIA WEBCAST

Additional side event for GSP partners only

• Status of the World’s Soil Resources: From Science to Law and Policy for Strengthened Soil Governance | 17 June 2026 | 16:00–17:00 (Green Room - A122), followed by a cocktail reception.

This side event, open exclusively to GSP partners, will present the updates on the forthcoming 2026 edition of the Status of the World’s Soil Resources report and explore how scientific findings can inform legal and policy frameworks for stronger soil governance.

Reviewing progress and shaping the soil agenda

Over the three days, GSP partners will review the implementation of the GSP programme and discuss key strategic priorities for the partnership. The Assembly will review the report of the ad hoc Working Group on Institutional Matters, examine progress towards a United Nations Decade on Soil Health and review the work of the Intergovernmental Technical Panel of Soils (ITPS) and the GSP technical networks, including their main activities for 2025–2026 and proposed work plans for 2026–2027. Delegates will also assess the report of the GSP Secretariat, including the proposal to establish a working group on ethical issues related to soil information, data activities and the use of artificial intelligence. The session will further review the financial status of the partnership and take note of updates from the Regional Soil Partnerships

A dedicated session on 19 June will showcase the work of sixteen GSP partners selected through an open call. Representatives will share experiences, lessons learned and successful initiatives supporting the implementation of the GSP Action Framework 2022–2030, highlighting opportunities for future collaboration across regions and stakeholder groups.

The 14th Plenary Assembly will conclude with decisions and recommendations aimed at strengthening global action for healthy soils and sustainable food systems.

For more information, including the agenda, documents and webcast links, visit the Plenary Assembly webpage.